The 100th anniversary of the birth of Erastus Corning 2nd

To younger Albany residents, the name Erastus Corning is a one they may only know because the riverfront preserve, the tallest office tower in the city or a public housing complex bears the family name. Perhaps they may have heard their parents or, more likely, their grandparents talk of a man simply known as “the mayor.”

Yet, Corning, who died in 1983, was a man who had an enormous impact, for better or for worse, on the quality of life even today in New York’s Capital city. As mayor of Albany for 41 years, he touched the lives of often directly, of a multitude of ordinary citizens. As a powerful upstate Democrat, he influenced the careers or a handful of governors, a collection of state and county legislators, and a legion of City Hall faithful.

No “Story of Albany” section would be complete without the story of Albany the story of Erastus Corning 2nd. Included in this special Corning section are news accounts, personal glimpses, tributes and commentaries compiled from the archives of the Times Union and the Knickerbocker News. Most were published in the days after his death at age of 73 on May 28, 1983.

Because Oct. 7, 2009 is the 100th anniversary of Corning’s birth, we have an opportunity to look back at the 41 years Corning ran City Hall and reflect on how his leadership affects the city even today.

We have also dipped into the rich photo archives of the Times Union to provide a look at Corning over the years. They give a a glimpse of how this man influenced the powerful and touched the lives of the city’s residents. CLICK HERE